Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 24, 2020 “Malden: Today, tomorrow and yesterday”…coping with today’s reality By Peter F. Levine I f you haven’t already seen this, then you are in for a rare treat in these dark, endless “Groundhog Day”–type days and nights. Take a moment and really absorb the content. To take in the full meaning. To conceptualize it. It was written by Catherine “Kitty” M. O’Meara just last month, a former teacher and chaplain from Wisconsin. Misreported via the interweb (surprise!) as written in 1869 by Kathleen O’Mara and reprinted in 1919 during the outbreak of the 1918 pandemic aka the Spanish Flu. Enjoy: “And people stayed at home And read books And listened And they rested And did exercises And made art and played And learned new ways of being And stopped and listened More deeply Someone meditated, someone prayed Someone met their shadow And people began to think differently And people healed. And in the absence of people who Lived in ignorant ways Dangerous, meaningless and heartless, The earth also began to heal And when the danger ended and People found themselves They grieved for the dead And made new choices And dreamed of new visions And created new ways of living And completely healed the earth Just as they were healed.” Malden hero revisited. If you have never heard of him say hello to Malden’s own World War II superhero, our very own Audie Murphy. From the personal diary of “Malden’s OneMan Army” Sgt. Joe Lumino – US Army 45th Division. Joe was a one-man Nazi killing machine sending approximately 75 Nazis to an early grave at the “Battle of Bloody Ridge” during World War II, earning him a Silver Star. Next time you go into the Highland Market at the corner of Oakland Street and Highland Avenue take a moment out of your life and salute the memorial for Joe placed there by the City of Malden. Joe’s family still has the “V-Mail” (V for Victory) postcard from him describing a care package SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY Call for a Quote 617-387-7466 Or email Rocco@sabatino-ins.com We cover: * Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available sent by Joe’s mom. It reads how all the guys in his unit got one swig out of the malted milk she sent him and how good it was. Printed with permission from his family: “Before attacking Biscari the Nazis were shelling us and the German Air Corp were dropping bombs near us, but we kept right on going. We were too dumb to know what war really is. I got cut from hitting the ground but refused aid as I did not want to report it for fear it would get in the papers as a casualty. My wife and folks would do plenty of worrying. It is a joke the way they give out Purple Hearts. Another great battle was Bloody Ridge. There was a swell story in Collier’s Magazine about the 45th fighting there. I fired 12 boxes of ammo in 65 minutes. The German tanks were coming very close to us and our artillery knocked it out. They helped very much.” Time to lighten the mood a little: “Oh, the pain!” Some of you were around, most were not. Hate to rub it in but a lot of the best music ever produced was in the year 1970. Fifty years ago, these were just a few musical treasures/earworms you could hear on your transistor radio. I bought a few of these singles at Roli Music on Irving Street. Disclaimer: This list doesn’t even include the Beatles, Stones, Kinks, C.C.R., Tull or Zeppelin! • “American Woman” – The Guess Who • “Band of Gold” – Freda Payne • “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” – The Temptations • “Give Me Just a Little More Time” – The Chairmen of the Board • “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” – The Hollies • “My Baby Loves Lovin’” – White Plains • “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” – The Delfonics • “Ma Belle Amie” – Tee-Set • “United We Stand” – The Brotherhood of Man • “The Wonder of You” – Elvis Presley “What you are about to read http://www.sabatino-ins.com SABATINO 564 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-7466 Hours of Operation are: Mondays - Fridays 9am to 5pm Saturdays by appointment only is a matter of human record. Explain it: we cannot. Disprove it: we cannot. We simply invite you to explore with us the amazing world of the UnTwo women wearing masks during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. (Courtesy Photo) known ... to take that One Step ... Beyond.” Ernie Ardolino Sr. is as famous a Malden guy as you can get. Originally a Meffa guy but adopted by Malden because he married well, he now resides at Dunkin’ Donuts on Lake Street in West Peabody with his “Gang of 4” as I call them. He sits around Double D with all his new cronies and regales them with colorful Ernie A. stories – tales most have heard a number of times, but they are as fresh as the dew in the morning to his new gang. Ernie is well known in Malden. He was the face of the Highland Café for many, many years. Greeting you at the door with that great big smile of his, that shock of (early?) gray hair, and that great big(ger) personality – also having coached just about everybody in Malden (and Medford) in one sport or other. I thought an Ardolino could not get more famous than Ernie Sr. until I found out about his cousin Emile. Emile Ardolino was born May 9, 1943, passing away in 1993. He was an American film director, choreographer and producer, best known for a couple of films you may have heard of – “Dirty Dancing” (1987) and “Sister Act” (1992) – winning an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for the 1983 movie “He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin.” Now ain’t that something! An Ardolino more famous than Ernie Sr.! Watch your back though, Ernie, your son Ernie Jr. is quickly catching up to your legendary notoriety! “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end...” Chair Emeritus Joe Lawless of the Malden Democratic City Committee (MDCC), sadly, passed away last month. The first few lines of the statement (the whole statement really) released by the MDCC was beautifully written: “Immeasurable – that would be the only word to describe Joseph Lawless’s contributions to the City of Malden, the Malden Democratic City Committee (MDCC), and the greater community at large. Joe was the builder, the leader, and the moral compass of the MDCC for decades – he mentored numerous democrats, activists and people looking to get involved in their government and try to make a difference.” Farewell, “Friend of Malden.” Postscript: I often poke fun at Stop & Shop. Not any longer. Thank you, S&S employees for being there. For keeping Malden fed and safe. It will not be forgotten. State Rep. Lipper-Garabedian to host virtual office hours S tate Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian announced that she and her office will hold virtual office hours for constituents on Tuesday, April 28, from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Constituents will be able to speak with the office by computer or phone. Her office hours are always open to the public to enable residents to speak directly with Lipper-Garabedian and her staff about any issues. Constituents interested in participating in virtual office hours should contact Rebecca Bueno by e-mail at Rebecca.Bueno@MAHouse.gov or call 617-722-2020 to receive the link and phone number for the office hours.
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